Folding deck chair



w. c. MARTIN FOLDING DECK CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet l Walter 6. MartinINVENTOR.

BY 1101550 915. :mmqs

Sept. 11, 1951 Filed Feb. 24, 1950 H" Ill II] I I Sept. 11, 1951 w.MARTIN FOLDING DECK CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1950 mm mmWaiter 6. Mari/n IN V EN TOR.

Sept. 11, 1951 w. c. MARTIN 2,567,341

' FOLDING DECK CHAIR Filed Feb. 24, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Walter C.Martin INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE FOLDING DECK CHAIR.

I 1 Walter C. Martin, Hinsdale, 111.

Application February 24, 1950, Serial No. 146,118.

6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in folding; deck chairs of thecrossed leg hammock seat type.

The primary object of my invention is to adapt such a chair for use as arocker and for adjustment of the same under the weight of the occupantinto diiferent reclining. positions selectively.

Another object is to-provide in such a chair for spring suspension ofthe occupant if. desired.

Still another object isto provide such a chair with a-leg restvertically adjustable by adjustment of the chair into differentreclining. positions to elevate or lower-the legs of the occupant inaccordance with lowering or raising of the body of the occupant.

Another object isto accomplish the abovein a chair'of the type specifiedby means of simple construction and few parts which will not materiallyincrease the cost of manufacture of such chairs.

Other andsubordinate objects, withinthe purview of my invention,to'getherwith the precise nature of my improvements will be readilyunderare read with reference drawings.

In said drawings:

Figure '1 is a view in perspective of my chair unfolded;

Figure 2'is a view in vertical longitudinal section taken. on the line22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is. a fragmentary View in horizontal section taken on the line3-3 of Figure 2 and drawnto a larger scale; I

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on 'the line lQ-lof FigureZ; v

Figure. 5 isa fragmentary view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the useof the stop pins;

Figure 6 isa view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 6-6of Figure 4 and drawn to a, still..1arger scale; I s

Figure 7 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the. line 1.-! ofFigure 3 and drawn to the same. scale;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in rear eleva tion illustrating the.manner in which one end of theseat and back. forming sheet is secured inplace;

Figure 9- is a fragmentary view in bottom plan taken on the line 9..9 ofFigure 2 and illustrating the manner in'which the other end of the seatand back forming sheet is. secured in place;

Figure 10. is-a-view drawn to areduced scale to the accompanyingimproved and illustrating the chair partly folded and in ,stood when thesucceeding description and claims side elevation;

Figure 11 is a similar'view illustrating, in full lines, the chaircompletely folded;

Figure 12 is a view in plan illustrating the chair completely folded infull lineswith the seat and back forming sheet illustrated in foldedposition.

Referring to the drawings, by numerals, my improved chair, asillustrated, comprises a base frame I including a pair of' side basebars 2 with longitudinal slots 3 therein, for a purpose presently'seen,and a rear base bar 4 underlying and bolted, asat 5, to the rear ends ofsaid side bar 2 for rigidl'y'connecting the same.

A pair of" side leg bars 6, at opposite sides of thebase frame I arepivotally and slidably connected atlower ends thereof to said side basebars-2, for folding and unfolding, by bolts 1 extending through saidends and the slots 3, said leg bars 6' being cross-connected at'upperends thereof'by a longitudinally slit cross bar'8 suitably fixedthereto, as at 8.

A pair of side leg bars 9, relatively longer than the. side leg: bars 6are pivotally' connected at lower ends thereof to the front ends of theside base bars 2, for folding and unfolding, .in between the same, and.bymeans of lateral pivot. bolts H] with spacing collars. ll thereonbetween said bars 2 and 9'. A longitudinally slit cross bar l2 bolted inplace, as at I3, cross connects the upper ends OffthGlSid leg bars 9.

Theside leg bars 6, 9, when the chair is unfolded, cross in the usualoppositely inclined manner with the shorterside leg bars 6 incliningforwardly, and upwardly from the side base bars 2' and; the pivot bolts1 in the rear ends of the slots 3, with the crossbar 8 at the" front ofthe chair, while the. longer side leg bars 9 incline upwardlyandrearwardly from the side base bars 2 with the cross bar l2 at. theback of. the chair.

The usual hammock type seat andback forming fabric sheet M has one endinserted through the slit cross bar 8 with a rod [5 hemmed thereinto-prevent the sheet from pulling out of said bar 8, the other end-ofsaid sheet Mbeing similarly extended through the slit cross bar l2 with.a rod. I6 hemmed therein for the samefpurpose as rod. IS. The. ends ofthe rod I6 are seated in notches I 6 in the side leg bars 9 to fastensaid rod in place. A cushioned head rest I! is suitably attached to'thecross bar l2 by a flap I8.

Afolding leg rest frame I9 is provided on the side leg, bars 9 toextend, when the same is unfolded, forwardly of the rest of the chair.The leg, rest frame. l9- comprisesa, pair of side bars 20 pivoted atrear ends thereof by pivot bolts 2|, to the side leg bars 9 adjacent thelower ends of said bars 9. As will be seen, when the leg rest frame 9 isunfolded, the same is positioned substantially above the floor. A footrest panel 22 is pivoted, as at 23, between the front ends of said bars20 for adjustment under foot pressure about a horizontal axis. A crossbar 24 is bolted, as at 25, to the side bars 20 and connects the samefor folding and unfolding in unison. A supporting bar 25 for the legrest frame |9 extends across and is bolted, as at 21, to the side legbars 9 below the pivot bolts 2| of said side bars 20, to support saidbars 20 and consequently the leg rest frame, when said frame isunfolded.

Means is provided for yieldingly connecting the side leg bars 6 and 9 atopposite sides-of the chair for adjustment of the chair into differentreclining positions and which will now be described. 1

A pair of arm bars 28 are pivoted, by bolts 29, at the front endsthereof to the upper ends of the side leg bars 6 for folding alongsidesaid bars 6 when the chair isfolded, and for unfolding to extendhorizontally across the side leg bars 9. A longitudinal top groove 30 isformed in each arm bar 28 and a shorter longitudinal slot 3| in theinner side thereof communicating with the groove 38 for a distance fromthe rear end of said groove suitable for a purpose presently seen. Anarm rest panel 32 is bolted, as at 33, on each arm 28 and closes thegroove 30. A lateral washerequipped, stud 34 extends from each side legbar 19 through the slot 3| and into the groove 30 of the adjacent armbar 28. A helical retractile spring 35 in the groove 30 of each arm bar28 is anchored at its front end in the front end of said groove by a pin36 with its rear anchored, as at 31, to the stud 34 extending into thegroove.

As will be seen, upon reference particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 7,since the helical springs 35 extend forwardly of the studs 34, saidstuds 34 are normally pulled forwardly by said springs 35 against thefront ends of the slots 3| so that when the chair is unfolded, andunoccupied, the side leg bars 9 are swung forwardly on the pivot bolts land the chair is'thus adjusted into a normal reclining position in whichthe slots 3| extend rearwardly of the side leg bars 9. Thus, under theweight of an occupant of the chair, the-studs 34 may slide rearwardly inthe slots 3| in oppositionto the helical springs 35, the side leg bars 9swinging downwardly and rearwardly on the pivot bolts I0 and the sideleg bars 6 swinging downwardly and forwardly on the pivot bolts I sothatthe chair is adjusted into other, lower reclining positions until thestuds 34 engage the rear ends of the slots 3| and establish the lowestreclining position of the chair.

I A pair of stop pins 38 are provided for insertion in pairs ofvertically aligned openings in the arm rest panels 32 and arm bars 28,for controlling adjustment of the chair into different recliningpositions, the pairs being designated 39, 140, respectively. The pins,38 are vertically slidable in pivoted pin carrying cranks 4| on the armrest panels 32 for swinging adjustment into verticalalignment with thepairs. of openings 39, 40 selectively.

r As will be observed in Figures 4 and '7, the pairs pf openings 39, 40are positioned in the line of .the grooves 30, the pair 39 beingadjacent the pom ends of the slots 3| and so that when the 'ins 38 areinserted in the pair 39, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 7, rearwardmovement of the studs 34 in the slots 3| and grooves 39 is blocked bythe pins and the chair locked against being adjusted out of normalreclining position. The pair of openings 40 is located rearwardly of thepair 39, substantially midway between said openings 39 and the rear endsof the grooves 39, so that when the pins 38 are inserted in said pair40, said studs 34 may move rearwardly in the slots 3| and grooves 30 andthe chair may be adjusted into a lower reclining position.

A third pair of vertically aligned openings 42 is provided in the armrest panels 32 and arm bars 28 and offset laterally from the path ofmovement of the studs 34, and with which the pins 38 may be verticallyaligned, by swinging of the pin carrying cranks 4|, as shown in dottedlines in Figure 5. When the pins 38 are inserted in the pair of openings42, said pins are positioned in an idle out-of-the-way position so thatthe studs 34 may move, if the weight of the occupant of the chair issufficient, rearwardly in the slots 3| and grooves 30 into engagementwith the rear end of said slots 3|, so that the chair may be thusadjusted into lowest reclining position, On the other hand, if theweight of the occupant of the chair is not suflicient, the chair mayassume different reclining positions, with the occupant spring suspendedin floating position, in a manner which will be apparent. In thisconnection, it is to be understood that the helical springs 35 areconstructed and arranged to sustain oc-' cupants of different weightwithin a wide range of variations, and the lowest reclining position ofthe chair is principally a safety provision.

The operation of my improved chair will be readily understood from theforegoing and the followingdescription. The chair being unfolded, thestuds 34 are'pulled forwardly in the slots 3| and grooves 30, which isto say, in the arm bars 28, against the front ends of said slots 3| sothat the chair is adjusted into its normal slightly reclining position;This position of the chair may be established, selectively, for oneabout to occupy the chair, by inserting the stop pins 38 in the pair ofopenings 39 whereby the chair will be locked in normal slightlyreclining position. If a lower reclining position is desired-theoccupant of the chair may insert the pins in the pair of openings 40 andthe chair, under the weight of the occupant, will assume a lowerreclining position in the manner described. If a still lower recliningposition is desired, the pins 38 may be inserted in the pair of openings42 so that the studs 34 may play freely back and forth in the slots 30and grooves 3|. The chair will then be adjusted according to the weightof the 00 cupant into a further, lower reclining position, with theoccupant spring suspended and floatingly sustained, in the mannerpreviously set forth. Obviously, in any position in which the chair isadjusted it may be rocked by foot pressure on the leg rest frame l9, theside leg bars 6 and 9 pivoting on the pivot bolts 1, I0, 29 and on thestuds 34 to permit such rocking. Also, as will be obvious, the leg restframe l9 will be tilted upwardly as the chair is adjusted intosuccessively lower reclining positions since, under such adjustment, theside leg bars 9 are lowered on the pivot bolts I0 whereby the rest bar26 will swing said frame |9 upwardly. The advantage is providingfor'easy comfortable posture as will be clear. I

Referring now particularly ,to Figures 10 to 12', to fold the chair,theside leg bars 8 are swun upwardly and rearwardly by means of the-bar 8which causes the pivot'bolts I to slideforwardly in the'slotsi 3, theside ,legbars' 9; to swing down wardly andrearwardly, and the arm bars28- to "swing downwardly and rearwardly between the ,sidebase-bars-f andalso between saidbars 6 and9 allasishown" in Figure 10in which the chairis shown partly folded, When the pivot'bolts l reacnthe front ends oftheslots 3, the side'leg bars-'6', 9 and the arm bars 28 will foldsubstantially'fiatas shown in Figure 11. The leg rest frame l9 'maythen-be swung-upwardly and rearwardly in between the'folded side legbars 9, as shown in Figure 12.

The foregoing will, it isbelieved, suffice to imparta clearunderstanding of my invention, without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification,without departing from the inventive concept, andright is hereinreserved to such modifications. as fall within theiscope ,offthe,appended claims,

tending across the side leg bars at opposite sides of the frame, aflexible seat-and back forming sheet suspended from said pairs of sideleg bars, said side leg bars being pivotally connected to said sideframe bars and to said arm bars for rocking movement of said side legbars and arm bars relatively to form a rocking chair, and a legsupporting frame extending forwardly from said second pair of side legbars for vertical rocking adjustment by rocking movement of said secondpair of side leg bars, the pivotal connections between said second pairof side leg bars and arm bars being slidable rearwardly along said armbars for swinging of said second pair of leg forming bars rearwardly toadjust the chair into different reclining positions, and spring means insaid arm bars for opposing rearward sliding of said slidable connectionsand resiliently suspending an occupant of said seat.

2. In a deck chair, a base frame including a pair of horizontal sideframe bars, rigidly connected, a first pair of side leg bars at oppositesides of said frame inclining upwardly and forwardly therefrom, a secondpair of relatively longer side leg bars at opposite sides of said frameinclining upwardly and rearwardly therefrom across the first pair ofside leg bars, a pair of arm bars extending across the side leg bars atopposite sides of said frame, a flexible seat and back forming sheetsuspended from said pairs of side leg bars, said leg bars beingpivotally connected to said side frame bars and to said arm bars forrocking movement of said side leg bars and arm bars relatively to form arocking chair, the pivotal connections between said second pair of sideleg bars and said arm bars being slidable rearwardly along said arm barsfor swinging of the second pair of side leg bars rearwardly to adjustthe chair into different reclining positions, and spring means in saidarm bars for opposing rearward sliding of said slidable connections andresiliently suspending an occupant of said seat.

3. In a deck chair, a base frame including 6 a pairof horizontal'sideframe bars, rigidly connected, a first pair of Side legbars at opposite"sides of"saicl "frame inclining upwardly and forwardlytherefi om, asecond; pair of relatively longer side l'egbars at opposite sidesof saidframe inclining upwardly andrearwardlytherefrom across the first pair ofside-leg bars, a pair o f armgbars' extending across the side leg barsat opposite sides of said frame, a flexible seat and back forming sheetsuspended from said pairs of" side leg'bars', said leg bars beingpivotally connected to said side frame bars and to sai dj arm" bars forrocking movement ofsaid side legjba'rs and'arm bars relatively "to forma rocking chair, the pivotal connections between said second' pair ofside leg bars, and said arm b'arsbeing slidable rearwardly along saidarm bars for swingingof the second pair'of side leg bars rearwardl y'toadjust the chair into different reclining positions, spring meansirl'said'arm bars for op: posing rearward sliding of said slidableconnections and resiliently-suspending an'occupant of said seat, andmeans for selectivelyestablishing different limits of rearward slidingmovement of said slidable connections to predetermine the recliningposition into which said chair shall be adjusted.

4. In a deck chair, a base frame including a pair of horizontal sideframe bars, rigidly connected, a first pair of side leg bars at oppositesides of said frame inclining upwardly and forwardly therefrom, a secondpair of relatively longer side leg bars at opposite sides of said frameinclining upwardly and rearwardly therefrom across the first pair ofside leg bars, a pair of arm bars extending across the side leg bars atopposite sides of said frame, a flexible seat and back forming sheetsuspended from said pairs of side leg bars, said leg bars beingpivotally connected to said side frame bars and to said arm bars forrocking movement of said side leg bars and arm bars relatively to form arocking chair, the pivotal connections between said second pair of sideleg bars and said arm bars being slidable rearwardly along said arm barsfor swinging of the second pair of side leg bars rearwardly to adjustthe chair into different reclining positions, spring means in said armbars for opposing rearward sliding of said slidable connections andresiliently suspending an occupant of said seat, and means insertableinto said arm bars into the path of movement of said slidableconnections to limit rearward sliding thereof and predetermine thereclining position in which said chair shall be adjusted.

5. In a deck chair, a base frame including a pair of horizontal sideframe bars, rigidly connected, a first pair of side leg bars at oppositesides of said frame inclining upwardly and forwardly therefrom, a secondpair of relatively longer side leg bars at opposite sides of said frameinclining upwardly and rearwardly therefrom across the first pair ofside leg bars, a pair of arm bars extending across the side leg bars atopposite sides of said frame, a flexible seat and back forming sheetsuspended from said pairs of side leg bars, said leg bars beingpivotally connected to said side frame bars and to said arm bars forrocking movement of said side leg bars and arm bars relatively to form arocking chair, the pivotal connections between said second pair of sideleg bars and said arm bars being slidable rearwardly along said arm barsfor swinging of the second pair of side leg bars rearwardly to 7 adjustthe chair into different reclining positions. spring means in said armbars for opposing rearward sliding of said slidable connections andresiliently suspending an occupant of said seat, and means for lockingsaid slidable connections against rearward movement to preventadjustment of said chair.

6. In a deck chair, a base frame including a pair of horizontal sideframe bars, rigidly connected, a first pair of side leg bars at oppositesides of said frame inclining upwardly and forwardly therefrom, a secondpair of relatively longer side leg bars at opposite sides of said frameinclining upwardly and rearwardly therefrom across the first pair ofside leg bars, a pair of of side leg bars and said arm bars beingslibable rearwardly along said arm bars for swinging of the second pairof side leg bars rearwardly to adjust the chair into difl'erentreclining positions, spring .means in said arm bars for opposingrearward sliding of said slidable connections and resiliently suspendingan occupant of said seat, and means for locking said slidableconnections against rearward movement to prevent adjustment of saidchair including stop pins insertable in said arm bars into the path ofrearward movement of said sliding connections.

- WALTER C. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 374,802 Meddins Dec. 13, 18872,046,644 Martin July 7, 1936 2,203,610 Bascom June 4, 1940

